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New to principal roles, Foster took home the 2002 Tony Award for her ebullient, belt-voiced performance as the country hick who comes to Manhattan in the 1920s to be a modern woman. Foster has been in discussions to play Jo in a new Broadway-bound musical, Little Women, expected to debut regionally in fall 2004 before a holiday time opening.
She exits Millie Feb. 15, as does Delta Burke. No replacement for Burke has been named. Egan debuts in the Millie role at a special 2 PM Feb. 16 matinee.
Egan previously told Playbill On-Line she was in talks to play Millie when Foster's long contract ends. "I'm really excited!" Egan said. " I love [director] Michael Mayer! I love the show and I'm excited to get to do a happy 1920s musical. It's like the carbon copy of Cabaret — it's the polar opposite. The same time period basically, a little earlier. Same haircut, different story."
Egan was Tony Award-nominated for her turn in Beauty and the Beast. Her other credits include a prior stint as Sally Bowles in Cabaret as well as Triumph of Love, Putting It Together and State Fair. She also provided voices for the Disney film "Hercules"; the Japanese animated feature, "Spirited Away"; and the upcoming release of "Porco Rosso." The singer-actress will also release her third album, which will include a few Broadway tunes as well as music that she grew up with.